Dalhousie's Online Introductory Biology Courses are Available to Nova Scotia Grade 12 Students

Motivated Nova Scotia high school students who seek advanced academic challenges can now enrol in either of our two web-based introductory biology courses, BIOL 1020 and BIOL 1021. Both courses count as prerequisites for a number of higher-level Dalhousie science courses, and can satisfy science electives in arts and social sciences programs. Completing one or both courses before arriving at the university will allow students to proceed to second-year biology courses more quickly. It's a solid head start for pursuing medicine, dentistry, the health professions, marine sciences and much more. High school students taking these courses interact with students in regular programs at Dalhousie University, providing opportunities to make new friends and contacts and to learn more about university life and possible career paths.

Both courses are offered concurrently in the Fall (September-December), Winter (January-April), and Summer (June-August) terms.

Each course is approximately 13 weeks in duration. Students have the option of taking both courses while still in high school, one course while in high school and one course over the summer, or one course prior to coming to Dalhousie, and the other while attending other classes at Dal. (While it is possible to take both courses concurrently, we strongly recommend that students planning to take both courses do so sequentially, rather than concurrently. One course is not a prerequisite for the other, so they may be taken in any order.)

For more information about the courses and how they operate, please review the rest of this site, via the links at the top of this page.

Admission Requirements

• completion of Grade 11
• 80% average and in good standing
• an academic reference from a teacher, guidance counsellor, or other academic administrator

Grade 12 Biology is NOT required to take these courses. However, some background in biology and/or chemistry may reduce the study time required for BIOL 1020, which includes some molecular biology. BIOL 1021 may be an easier entry point for students with no background in biology or chemistry.

These are regular university-level courses, each requiring 8-12 hours per week total work time. Thus, a distance education or free block is recommended for high school students taking BIOL 1020 or BIOL 1021 during the Winter or Fall term.

Fees

The total cost for taking either course includes the Dalhousie application fee (varies with program), tuition fee, incidental fees, and the cost of the textbook. See the fee estimate document (PDF) posted at Dalhousie's Money Matters (formerly Student Accounts) website; scroll down to the Science category. The textbook, used in both courses, retails for approximately $165 at the Dalhousie Bookstore.

Financial assistance is available for Nova Scotia high school students taking these courses, and some fees may be waived in whole or in part by Dalhousie University. Please have your school contact the Nova Scotia Department of Education for details.

Transfer Credit

If a student wishes to take the Dalhousie course for credit at another institution, the student should consult that institution to confirm that the course will be accepted for transfer credit. The relevant descriptions of the courses are available on the Course Descriptions and Syllabi pages of this site.

Application Process

To apply, students are required to submit the following through their Guidance Office:

• a completed application form (obtain a hard copy from your guidance counsellor, rather than applying to Dalhousie directly via their online application process)
• an official high school transcript, including Grade 11 final grades and a list of Grade 12 courses
• an academic reference from a teacher, guidance counsellor, or administrator

Questions?

See the links above for more information about the courses. Students, teachers, and guidance counsellors may also contact Katie Cherry (Registrar's Office) by e-mail at katie.cherry@dal.ca, or by phone at (902) 494-4312.

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